Indoor Air Quality Concerns
All of us face a
variety of risks to our health as we go about our day-to-day lives.
Driving in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational
activities, and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose
varying degrees of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable. Some we
choose to accept because to do otherwise would restrict our ability
to lead our lives the way we want. And some are risks we might
decide to avoid if we had the opportunity to make informed choices.
Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.
In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has
indicated that the air within both residential dwellings and
commercial facilities can be more seriously polluted than the
outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities.
Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent
of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health
may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than
outdoors.
In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for
the longest periods of time are often those most susceptible to the
effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups include the young, the
elderly, and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from
respiratory or cardiovascular disease.
Significant air pollution in educational and health care facilities
can arise from a variety of sources. For example, some of these
buildings may be inadequately ventilated or mechanical ventilation
systems may not be designed or operated to provide adequate amounts
of outdoor air.
Health Effects
A number of well-identified illnesses, such as Legionnaire's
disease, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever,
have been directly traced to specific building problems. These are
called building-related illnesses. Most of these diseases can be
treated—nevertheless, some pose serious risks.
Sometimes, however, building occupants experience symptoms that do
not fit the pattern of any particular illness and are difficult to
trace to any specific source. This phenomenon has been labeled sick
building syndrome. People may complain of one or more of the
following symptoms: dry or burning mucous membranes in the nose,
eyes, and throat; sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, fatigue or
lethargy, headache, dizziness, nausea, irritability and
forgetfulness. Poor lighting, noise, vibration, thermal discomfort,
and psychological stress may also cause, or contribute to these
symptoms.
There is no single manner in which these health problems appear. In
some cases, problems begin as people enter the building and diminish
as they leave; other times, symptoms continue until the illness is
treated. Sometimes there are outbreaks of illness among many of the
occupants in the facility; in other cases, health symptoms show up
only in individuals.
In the opinion of some World Health Organization experts, up to 30
percent of new or remodeled commercial buildings may have unusually
high rates of health and comfort complaints from occupants that may
potentially be related to indoor air quality.
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